'Compass and Torch'

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Transcript of 'Compass and Torch'

'Compass and Torch' by Elizabeth Baines Objective: to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the ways writer's create characters, settings and express ideas, issues and themes. This is the open line of a story: 'The road ends at a gate.' What do you think the story is about? Here is the second line: 'The boy waits in the car while the man gets out.' Does this still fit with your idea? If not, what has changed? Here is the opening paragraph:'The road ends at a gate. The boy waits in the car while the man gets out. Beyond the gate is the open moor, pale in the early evening with bleached end-of-summer grass, bruised here and there with heather and age-old spills of purple granite. The boy, though, is not looking that way, ahead. He is watching the man: the way he strides to the gate, bouncing slightly in his boots, his calf-muscles fl exing beneath the wide knee-length shorts, the flop of hair at the front and the close-shaved neck as he bends for the catch.' Here is the second paragraph:'The boy is intent. Watching Dad. Watching what Dad is. Drinking it in: the essence of Dadness.'What is going on here? As we go through page one, highlight one word in each line which you think is important. Creative TaskSelect one of the following options:‘Two torches are for father and son to back each other up.’Write an article for a parenting magazine in which you offer advice to parents on how to improve their relationship with their child. Consider how appropriate the dad’s actions are in the story and use it as an example to support, or argue against, your advice.Or:Write a page for a children’s advice website on how to cope when your parents have split up and they cannot agree on what is best for the child. Starter: from what you already know of 'Compass and Torch', what ideas or themes do you think think the writer might be trying to express? Previous stories have explored: loneliness, death, growing up, familial relationships, friendship to name just a few. Preparation: writing to advise:How is advice given?Underline words which help to offer advice 'softly' and sympathetically. In pairs, discuss where advice needs to be given in the story. The Writing:what content must you include?What tone should you adopt?what skills do you need to focus on? Peer Assessment:pick two things which the writer does wellidentify one thing which needs improving, making sure that you suggest the improvement Symbolism!As we read through, call out 'Symbolism!' every time you think the writer has created some. Pick two pieces of symbolism in the text. What is the writer trying to suggest to the reader?Remember, we're aiming for A* now, so what is the new assessment criteria we need to include in our analysises? Discuss with shoulder partner. Starter: what do you think the title 'Compass and Torch' might represent?